Influence of Diet and Iodine-131 Injections on the Survival of Dystrophic Mice

Abstract

DIET has been shown to influence the survival of mice with hereditary muscular dystrophy, since an increased lifespan and an extended period of growth have been recorded when a Semi-synthotic diet containing high-quality protein and lipid was used, and the further addition of glycine to the diet increased the growth rate still more¹. Apparently, the vitamin content of the diet did not produce the effect, since other investigations using massive doses of vitamin mixtures did not prolong the survival of dystrophic mice². Suppression of the thyroid gland activity by ¹³¹I (ref. 3), or surgical removal of the gland⁴, delayed muscular degeneration in vitamin E-deficient rabbits, indicating an influence of the thyroid hormone on this type of muscle pathology.